Singapore and Africa Step Up Collaboration in Civil Aviation Training
5 December 2024
On 26 November 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) representing 54 African Member States[1] renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to step up collaboration in civil aviation training to meet growing global demand in air travel. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects global air passenger volume to at least double over the next two decades, driving better connectivity and stronger economic growth. Under the MOU, CAAS will provide fellowships, scholarships and in-region training to help increase the pool of skilled aviation professionals the region and countries in the region need, to support and benefit from this growth. The MOU was signed by Mr Ng Tee Chiou, 2 Deputy Director-General of CAAS, and Ms Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of AFCAC, at the sidelines of the 35th AFCAC Ordinary Plenary Session held in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo. The signing was witnessed by Mr Bernard Lim, Special Envoy of Singapore Minister for Transport and Mr Silas Udahemuka, President of AFCAC.
2 CAAS and AFCAC first signed a MOU on collaboration on civil aviation training in 1997. Over the last 27 years, CAAS has given out more than 2,600 fellowships and scholarships and trained more than 8,500 aviation professionals from AFCAC Member States. They include aviation professionals who have since become Directors-General of Civil Aviation in Cameroon, South Africa and Uganda.
3 Under the new MOU, CAAS will provide an additional 195 fellowships over the next three years for aviation professionals from AFCAC Member States to attend training programmes in Singapore at the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA), the training arm of CAAS. Other than fellowships, the MOU will cover three new elements:
a) For the first time, CAAS will offer eight scholarships to young aviation professionals aged 35 and below from these States to attend the Singapore-International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Scholarship Programme. The six-week programme includes a two-week course at SAA, a four-week attachment at an aviation entity in Singapore and mentoring sessions with a SAA senior fellow.
b) CAAS and AFCAC will also step up engagements amongst the Directors-General of Civil Aviation of Singapore and the 54 AFCAC Member States to facilitate knowledge exchange, including in the area of aviation safety through the ICAO-SAA Directors-General Programme on Aviation Safety.
c) CAAS will also step up in-region training which will benefit many more aviation professionals; over the next three years, SAA will conduct 12 customised training programmes in Africa. These will be across core aviation domains, including aviation safety and security, accident investigation, air navigation services, sustainability and airport management.
4 “Africa is well positioned for strong aviation growth in the coming years; key to harnessing this will be the availability of skilled manpower. The MOU is testament to the strong and enduring ties between CAAS and AFCAC and its 54 Member States, and our shared commitment to building a pipeline of aviation professionals to support the growth of our countries.” said Mr Ng Tee Chiou.
5 “This MOU will enhance positively cooperation between AFCAC and Singapore, which has been a strategic partner for many years. All our 54 Member States have benefited from training from Singapore through the years, and we are reassured that this long-standing partnership between AFCAC and Singapore will endure for many more years to come.” said Ms Adefunke Adeyemi.
[1] AFCAC member States: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
About the African Civil Aviation Organization
African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) is the specialized agency of the African Union responsible for Civil Aviation matters in Africa, it is the Executing Agency of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). AFCAC facilitates cooperation and coordination among African States towards the development of integrated and sustainable air transport systems and fosters the implementation of ICAO SARPs and the development of harmonized rules and regulations consistent with international best practices in civil aviation. For more information visit http://www.afcac.org
About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg
For media queries, please contact:
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg
African Civil Aviation Commission
Email: rsombacke@afcac.org